Now
that peace may have returned to the Balkans, it may also return to the normally sleepy
lanes of Gloucestershire with the cessation of bombing operations from Fairford.

This decade has seen three occasions on
which the giant bombers have been despatched into enemy territory from the base, and with
a $100 million refurbishment to the runways and taxiways planned it is unlikely that it
will be the last...

But for now we can reflect
on the last eighty days or so, and look forward to the more
routine activity of the Royal International Air Tattoo next
month.

60-020
of the 20th BS takes off on another mission, Kosovo bound. The
20th BS is part of the 2nd BW from Barksdale AFB.

Bombing
missions have been supported by KC-135s from the 22nd ARS of
the 366th Wing, normally based at Mountain Home AFB.

B-52H
60-062 'Cajun Fear' sits at dusk, bombed up and ready to go, May 1999.

As
well as the 20th BS, the 23rd BS also operated from Fairford,
as shown by 60-033, here also loaded with iron bombs. The 23rd
is part of the 5th BW from Minot AFB.